Radiator-valve.



W. W. BRISSENDEN.

RADIATOR VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 21. 1907.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914,i

m5 As thus illustrated, the valve A may be of i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER W. BRISSENDEN, OF INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL STEAM SPECIALTY COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

RADIATOR-VALVE.

To all whom it may conce/m Be it known that I, VLTER WV. BRissnN- DEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Inglewood, Los Angeles county, California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Radiator- -Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to relief valves for radiators.

It relates more particularly to valves of that character in which the discharge o-f air automatically ceases as soon as steam fills the radiator, or as soon as water attempts to pass through the valve. In valves of this character more or less trouble is experienced as a result of the water in the base of the valve, and various efforts have been made to provide a self-draining valve. In other words, it is desirable that the valve shall be of such a character as to effectually clear or free itself of water, preferably through the same passage by which the steam enters the valve from the radiator. So far, however, the attempts in this direction have not been altogether satisfactory.

The principal object of my invention is, therefore, the provision of a valve having improved means for clearing or freeing its self from water; the provision of a draining arrangement for valves of this character, in which the water cannot form or collect in a column, and in which the draining of the valve is accomplished by the flow of water over exposed and more or less adjacent surfaces, whereby the valve will drain freely at all times; and the provision of certain details and features of improvement and combinations tending to increase the general etliciency of a device of this general character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of an automatic radiator valve embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section of said valve on line 3-8 of Fig. 2. Fig. Il is a horizontal cross section of said valve on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the improved drain with which the said valve is provided.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 21, 1907.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914. Serial No. 398,381.

l any suitable, known or approved construction. As shown, it comprises a base a having an inlet al which is screwed into the radiator. It also comprises a sheet metal body a2 adapted to inclose the expansible or thermostatic member a3, as well as the float at, which latter is adapted to rise under water pressure. The movable valve member a5 is mounted on the upper end of the oat, and is adapted to cont-rol the outlet or re lief opening a, in the well known manner. The heat of the steam causes the member a3 to expand and close the valve.

In order to enable the valve to free or clear itself of water, a drain B is inserted through the passage al, and is adapted to have its tip or lower end o hang down inside of the radiator. It will be seen that the said drain, as shown, is composed of three flat pieces of metal b1, b2, b3, which are joined together' at their inner and lower ends by the tip b, in the manner shown. The inner end of the middle member Z22 is provided with a portion b4, adapted to engage in the opening b5 in the base of the valve. The outer members b1, b3, have outwardly bent portions 66, b?, which serve as hooks or shoulders for preventing the withdrawal of the drain. Said drain, however, can be withdrawn by simply pressing together all three of said members, thus enabling the end por tions o6, 217, to pass outwardly through the opening al. In this way the said drain is insertible and removable after the valve is fully assembled.

In use, the water which collects within the valve will be drawn by capillary attraction along the surfaces of the fiat metal members b1, b2, b3, and a gradual discharge of the water within the valve will take place. It will be seen that the surfaces of the three flat members are sufficiently separated to permit the water to enter between them, and thus the capillary attraction is facilitated. In this way, a column of water is not permitted to form within the drain, as all of the conducting surfaces are fully exposed, and the draining is accomplished only by capillary attraction. A drain passage C can be provided in the base of the valve, the same being arranged to have its inner end communicate with the main chamber of the valve, and to have its outer end communicate with the interior of the radiator, so as to discharge the water onto the top of the drain B, in the manner shown. lith this arrangement, water will not tend to stand in the valve, but will be drained freely and eifectually therefrom, when the valve is in use on the radiator.

It will be seen that the spaces between the members 1, b2, 7a3, are each open at two sides thereof-that is to say, each space is closed only at two sides and is open at top and bottom. Spring means are provided for holding the drain in place, inasmuch as the portions b1, 3 can be pressed together to permit the drain to be inserted in the base of the valve; and when so inserted it loclrs the composition CL3 in place, in the manner described. It will be seen, therefore, that the drain consists of separate and distinct -strips which are fastened together only at their outer ends, leaving their inner ends free to swing apart to hold the drain in place. In addition, it will be seen that the spaces between the flat members 1, b2, b3, taper or diminish inthe direction of the tlow of water thereinthat is to say, these spaces become gradually narrower and more restricted as they extend downwardly to the connectingmember 7). In an arrangement of this kind the capillary attraction is considerable, and the water by reason of this drains gradually ont of the valve and down through the spaces between the members b1, Z22, 3, until it iinally drips from the lower end of the member which latter is preferably tapered downwardly.

lVhat l claim as my invention is:

1. In a radiator valve, a drain comprising a. plurality of strips of material entirely separated from each other except at one end thereof, but arranged close together, so as to provide longitudinal spaces each open at two sides thereof, with one end of said drain inside of the valve, and the other end adapted to depend from said valve.

2. In al radiator valve, a drain comprising` a plurality of members entirely separated from each other except at one end thereof, but arranged close together, so as to provide longitudinal spaces each open at two sides thereof, said members suitably connected at their outer ends. which outer ends are adapted to depend from said valve, the inner end of said drain being within the valve.

3. in a radiator valve, a drain comprising a plurality of strips of metal entirely separated from eaclfothe-r except at one end thereof. but arranged close together with their flat vertical surfaces opposing each other. so as to provide longitudinal spaces each open at two sides thereof` the inner end of the drain being within trie valve, and the other end adapted to depend from said yalve 4. In a radiator valve, an inlet therefor, and a drain having a part thereof depending from said inlet, said drain made of strips of spring metal joined together only at their lower ends.

5. radiator valve including a drain adapted to depend therefrom. a thermostatic member, and means on the inner end of the drain engaging said thermostatic member to locl; said member in place.

G. .l radiator valve including a drain adapted to depend from said valve, so as to drain accumulations of water in the valve from said valve, said drain consisting of a plurality of distinctor separate strips of material so connected together at their outer and lower ends that the spaces between the same taper or diminish in the direction of the flow of water therein.J as set forth.

Signed by me at Inglewood, Los Angeles county, Cal. this QOthe day of July 1907.

WALTER lV. BRISSENDEN.

TWitnesses:

BENJ. HILLMEN, H. A. Monnis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o1 Patents,

Washington. D. C. 

